Self-contained ecological dynamic boat pitch and roll trim system by alteration of the hull water flow

ABSTRACT

The self contained ecological dynamic boat pitch and roll trim system by alteration of the hull water flow, of this invention consists of a main body ( 1 ) inside of which an elastic flexible pressure means ( 5 ), is being housed properly, located on supporting plates ( 4 ), compression-retraction springs ( 7 ) of said flexible elastic pressure means ( 5 ), spring guides ( 8 ), spring housing tubes ( 9 ), a hydrodynamic barrier ( 6 ), a back guide ( 2 ) and a front guide ( 10 ) for the hydrodynamic barrier ( 6 ) and a cover ( 3 ), being characterized in that said flexible elastic pressure means ( 5 ) is being independent and self contained, said system is also being capable of operating with no seals by use of only water, requiring no dedicated water pump, is being capable of being self cleaned internally and has the form of a cubic shape.

The present invention refers to a self contained ecological dynamic boatpitch and roll trim system by alteration of the hull water flow beinginvented, designed manufactured and distributed in the market byexclusively us.

The most widespread boat pitch and roll trim systems in the globalmarket are the ones of horizontal plate type and of verticalhydrodynamic barrier type, both using either a hydraulic cylinder, or anelectric screw type cylinder and/or even any other linear movementhydraulic cylinder,—essentially however of a high pressure i.eapproximately 40 atmospheres—, said systems functioning exclusively byuse of a mineral oil, being suitable for hydraulic circuits, thusrequiring regular repair and maintenance, while with reference to theelectric systems these need extensive work for the reason thatmechanical power has to be transmitted through the hull and moreoverboth of said systems present an overall installation shape of invertedT, that creates problems as regards installation and ship spaceexploitation in that particular area.

The system of hydrodynamic barrier is established as being the mostefficient of the two aforementioned ones, however this is being at adisadvantage, for the reason that due to the need of internallubrication under high oil pressures it is being unable to operate byuse of any liquid other than oil and provided that seals there existfixed in its cylinder system, this resulting in a very fast wearing ofsaid seals, due to continuous contact with salty water andmicro-organisms and the inevitable fouling entering the system,requiring very frequent repairs and maintenance having the severeconsequence of the environmental pollution caused by oil spillage duringthe repair and maintenance processes.

The present invention aims to overcome all aforementioned problems andeliminate all disadvantages of existing technological level, bypresenting of a self contained ecological dynamic boat pitch and rolltrim system by alteration of the hull water flow, bearing no sealswhatsoever and being able to operate by use of water only, thus noenvironmental pollution is being allowed to be caused, that isfurthermore being maintenance free and having a functional shape andsmall volume, so that installation in the suitable place, as well asexploitation of boat space to be facilitated.

The new self contained ecological dynamic boat pitch and roll trimsystem by alteration of the hull water flow is characterized in that itbrings a self contained flexible elastic pressure means which due to itsnature is being capable of exerting pressure and force throughout itssurface, by requirement of very small operating pressure of 1-3 bar, anduse of a non compressible fluid, which fluid due to the system designingand application is being the water, requiring no additional independenthydraulic pump unit, for it is able of using the existing boat waterinstallation unit, according to said boat water installation unitoperating parameters and also being characterized by bearing of noseals, this resulting to a free water circulation inside the bodysystem, providing thus an internal hydrodynamic self-cleaning mechanismfrom any kind of fouling, while in the event of failure of said elasticflexible means, either due to wear or due to an accident, not even theleast of environmental pollution is likely to be caused, since water isonly used in the circuit and moreover said system is capable of beingrepaired either partially or fully while the boat is being in the watereliminating thus the time-consuming and costly processes of hauling outand launching of the boat. Finally it is also being at advantage due toits unique cubic design of a very small volume occupying up to 75% lessspace as compared to traditional systems for the same installation atthe same boat, causing no injuries also due to its overall shape.

The self contained ecological dynamic boat pitch and roll trim system byalteration of the hull water flow of the present invention will befurther understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, were adetailed presentation is shown in an indicative and not at all limitingmaterialization where:

FIG. 1, shows the self contained ecological dynamic boat pitch and rolltrim system by alteration of the hull water flow, bearing its cover infront view.

FIG. 2, shows the self contained ecological dynamic boat pitch and rolltrim system by alteration of the hull water flow, without its cover infront view.

FIG. 3, shows the self contained ecological dynamic boat pitch and rolltrim system by alteration of the hull water flow, in top view.

FIG. 4, shows the self contained ecological dynamic boat pitch and rolltrim system by alteration of the hull water flow, in side view.

FIG. 5, shows the self contained ecological dynamic boat pitch and rolltrim system by alteration of the hull water flow, in retracted positionside view, and

FIG. 6, shows the self contained ecological dynamic boat pitch and rolltrim system by alteration of the hull water flow, in extended positionside view.

Specifically, the self contained ecological dynamic boat pitch and rolltrim system by alteration of the hull water flow of this invention,consists of a main body (1) inside of which a self contained,independent elastic flexible pressure means (5), is being housedproperly, located on supporting plates (4), compression-retractionsprings (7) of said independent flexible elastic pressure means (5),spring guides (8), spring housing tubes (9), a hydrodynamic barrier (6),a back guide (2) and a front guide (10) for the hydrodynamic barrier (6)and a cover (3).

In the retracted mode of the invention system, a minimal or no watervolume is contained inside said elastic means (5) that is being retainedin this position by the compression force exerted by the springs (7),while at the same time the hydrodynamic barrier (6) is being at the topposition without the hull water flow being affected. When, by giving asuitable command, a volume of water is inserted inside the elastic means(5) said begins expanding thus pushing and moving the hydrodynamicbarrier (6) simultaneously to the operation position, while the reverseoccurs by relieving of fluid, assisted by the compression springs (7)via the same supply pipe and by the use of a suitable three way flowconnector.

Alternatively, it has to be noted that, the compression springs (7) canbe replaced by any other elastic means being suitable and the commandfor the water feed can be given by any mechanical way known.

Due to the use of non compressible fluid, the hydrodynamic barrier (6)movement is being linear and fully controlled to having unlimitedintermediate operating positions.

Finally due to its design, the whole system constitutes a compact unitwhich can cause no injuries, in contrast with the horizontal platesystems, so that it can even be fixed in small boats which until nowcould not bear a classic trim system because of the passenger movementthrough these spaces, while additionally as a unit it can bemanufactured in any desirable size since the design length does notconstitute a limiting factor.

1. A self contained ecological dynamic boat pitch and roll trim systemby alteration of the hull water flow, consisting of a main body insideof which an elastic flexible pressure means, is being housed properly,located on supporting plates, compression-retraction springs of saidflexible elastic pressure means, spring guides, spring housing tubes, ahydrodynamic barrier, a back guide and a front guide for thehydrodynamic barrier and a cover, being wherein said flexible elasticpressure means is being independent and self contained, said system isalso being capable of operating with no seals by use of only water,requiring no dedicated water pump, is being capable of being selfcleaned internally and has the form of a cubic shape.
 2. The dynamicboat pitch and roll trim system by alteration of the hull water flow asin claim 1, wherein said independent flexible elastic pressure means, isbeing capable of exerting pressure and force throughout its surface, dueto its nature, by requirement of a very small operating pressure of 1-3bar and the use of a non compressible fluid, which fluid due to thesystem designing and application is being the water, requiring noadditional independent hydraulic pump unit, for it is able of using theexisting boat water installation unit, according to said boat waterinstallation unit operating parameters.
 3. The dynamic boat pitch androll trim system by alteration of the hull water flow as in claim 1,wherein it is capable of being used with no seals, this providing theinternal free water circulation via its main body, further resulting toa hydrodynamic self cleaning effect from fouling of any kind.
 4. Thedynamic boat pitch and roll trim system by alteration of the hull waterflow as in claim 1 wherein in the event of failure of said independentflexible elastic pressure means, either due to wear or due to anaccident, not even the least of environmental pollution is likely to becaused, since water is only used.
 5. The dynamic boat pitch and rolltrim system by alteration of the hull water flow as in claim 1 whereinis being capable of being either partially or fully repaired while theboat is being in the water.
 6. The dynamic boat pitch and roll trimsystem by alteration of the hull water flow as in claim 1, wherein thecompression springs are capable of being replaced by any other elasticmeans being suitable, while the command for the water feed to saidindependent flexible elastic pressure means can be given by anymechanical way known.
 7. The dynamic boat pitch and roll trim system byalteration of the hull water flow as in claim 1, wherein, in retractedmode a minimal or no water volume is contained inside said elastic meansthat is being retained in this position by the compression force exertedby the springs, while at the same time the hydrodynamic barrier is beingat the top position without the hull water flow being affected suchthat, by giving a suitable command, a volume of water is inserted insidethe elastic means said begins expanding thus pushing and moving thehydrodynamic barrier simultaneously to the operation position, white thereverse action is achieved by relieving of fluid, assisted by thecompression springs via the same supply pipe and by the use of asuitable three way flow connector.
 8. The dynamic boat pitch and rolltrim system by alteration of the hull water flow as in claim 1, whereinit constitutes a unit capable of being produced in any desirable lengthsince its design makes it possible for that dimension.
 9. The dynamicboat pitch and roll trim system by alteration of the hull water flowlike in claim 1, wherein due to being in the form of a compact unit iscapable of being fixed in small boats which until now could not bear aclassic trim system because of the passenger movement through thesespaces, so that no injuries are caused whatsoever.